Police have said speed was likely a factor in a propane truck rollover on Friday morning that closed the 6500 block of Martinsburg Road for close to eight hours.
According to Cpl. Sam Smith of the West Virginia State Police, the driver of a Thompson Gas propane truck lost control of his truck while heading
A propane truck rollover closed WV 9 for eight hours on Friday, February 8.
eastbound on WV 9 around 5:45 a.m. on Friday, February 8. When the driver tried to regain control of his truck after a skid, it rolled, coming to rest in a nearby field along Martinsburg Road. The driver wasn’t injured in the accident, said Cpl. Smith.
An active propane leak from that truck kept responders on the scene for more than seven hours as they stopped the leak, coordinated the removal of propane and kept the area clear for safety reasons.
Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company Captain James Steiner established fire command at the scene and reported a 30 ft. vapor cloud coming from the truck . Fire officials reported that crews stopped a leak on the liquid side of the truck first. Lt. Zach Sipe determined the truck’s liquid valve had been damaged during the accident. Crews then continued work on the vapor side of the propane truck while it remained on its side. A second propane truck was brought in to offload the remaining propane from the damaged truck so it could be pulled upright, fire officials reported.
The roadway was reopened shortly before 1:45 p.m.
Traffic was rerouted during the accident response onto Potomac Road and River Road. Traffic detours did affect bus routes and arrival times for Morgan County students, but the roadway reopened ahead of afternoon dismissal times.
Police and fire units from Morgan and Berkeley counties at the scene were assisted by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and Division of Highways, the West Virginia Public Service Commission and Wrenches and Wreckers Towing and Recovery Service.
